“Every time you’re around cyclists, craft beer is not far behind”

Seattle is about to welcome a new brewing company that will bring craft beer and bikes even closer.

Dave Keller and Haley Woods

At the end of February, Dave Keller and Haley Woods will open Peddler Brewing Company, a gathering place for beer lovers and bicyclists alike. The bike-themed brewery is the combination of Haley's dream of running her own customer-oriented business, and Dave's dream of brewing and talking about beer every day, and their shared love of riding bikes.

“Initially we thought we’d open a place similar to the Beveridge Place Pub in West Seattle [that serves a large array of regional and international draft beers], but then I just decided that it would be way more fun to make the beer myself,” said Keller, who’s been a home brewer for 10 years. “I think every home brewer has the dream of opening his own place.” And bikes were part of the idea from the get-go.

“Every time you’re around cyclists, craft beer is not far behind,” joked Keller, who raced bikes in college. “Beer and bikes are two passions of mine. It just made sense to combine them.”

Woods added that in looking for a location, the couple wanted to be as close to the Burke-Gilman Trail as possible.

“We wanted it to be an easy destination for bikes,” she said. “So we purposely looked for a place near a bike path.” They found a home for their brewery in the old Maritime Pacific Brewing place on 1541 NW Leary, just two blocks off the Burke-Gilman. “And Ballard’s industrial setting is a natural fit,” Keller said.

Water faucet handle bars

“We’ll have bike parking and a public workstand for minor repairs inside the tasting room,” Keller said. “Where else can you take your bike inside the bar?”

Since acquiring the space in July, Keller and Woods have been spending most of their free time renovating it. Woods, a high school math teacher, and Dave, an engineer, continue to work full time at their day jobs.

“The brewery is our free time activity – just nights and weekends,” said Woods.

Aside from some KickStarter funding, the whole operation has been out-of-pocket and DIY.

“We downsized our living, moved to Ballard from Capitol Hill, and are doing everything ourselves,” said Woods. Taking down walls, drilling, painting, hammering, wiring, sawing, sanding, pouring concrete, installing equipment – you name it. They’re doing it all themselves. “All I had ever done before was maybe paint some walls and hammer a nail in the wall,” said Woods. “It is exciting to look around and see what all we did.”

Penny collection mosaic

Woods even turned her childhood penny collection into a beautiful bike-themed mosaic, hanging just above the bike rack.

“We truly are putting our heart and soul into making this brewery a reality,” the couple said.

So what will Keller be brewing? Peddler Brewing Company has a seven-barrel brewing system, eight taps in the tap room with a few regular taps and a couple rotating seasonal taps.